Willi Apel's classic study of Gregorian chant is now in paperback. This extensive survey describes the evolutionary processes of its long history as well as its definition and terminology, the structure of the liturgy, the texts, the notation, the rhythm, the tonality, and the methods and forms of psalmody.

"Fascinating insights into modern urban religious practice make Orsi's collection a must-read." --Publishers Weekly

"The essays provide insight into the cultural creativity, reinterpretation of worship and religious ingenuity of city people over the last 50 years." --Library Journal

"At last, a major dissection of the great mystery in modern American
life--how religion and spirituality prospered amidst industrialization,
urbanization, and rampant technological change after 1880 " --Jon Butler, Yale University

"Urban religion" strikes many as an oxymoron. How can...

This introduction to the imaginative world of the Mexica (or Aztec) explores sacrifice in the richly textured life of 16th-century Mexico. Kay Almere Read describes a universe in which every object was timed by a given lifespan and in which sacrifice was the mechanism by which time functioned. This book makes a convincing case for what sacrifice meant religiously and for how it came to be that human sacrifice of staggering proportions could be accepted, matter-of-factly, by the Mexica people.

Over 100,000 sold -Great for individuals and teams -Includes provocative discussion questions "I wish I had your gift " How do you handle those words as a creative artist? Somewhere between pride and self-abasement lies true humility--just one aspect of the balanced character God wants to instill in you as an actor, a musician, a visual artist, or other creative person involved in ministry. God is interested in your art and your heart. The Heart of the Artist deals head-on with issues every person in an arts ministry faces: -Servanthood Versus Stardom -Excellence Versus Perfectionism -The...

The Reformation restored the Scriptures to the people, but the job was only halfway finished. Today the church is awakening to the truth that ministry is not just the domain of clergy, but belongs to the entire body of Christ. God is moving her to complete her unfinished business of placing the ministry back in the hands of the people. Unfinished Business has played a pivotal part in helping the church reclaim ministry at the grassroots level. First published in 1990 as The New Reformation, it has become a classic resource for church life. Expanding on and updating the original material...

What does worship look like? Is there just one truly right way to worship? Are there any wrong ways? To what extent should our unity as believers manifest itself in unified public worship? Sadly, disagreement over how we should worship our loving God has sparked some most unloving attitudes among Christians. Exploring the Worship Spectrum seeks to correct this. It provides a forum for presentation, critique, and defense of six prominent worship styles: -Formal-Liturgical - Paul Zahl -Traditional Hymn-Based - Harold Best -Contemporary Music-Driven - Joe Horness -Charismatic - Don Williams...

Churches are aging. Even among megachurches with their modern technology and huge number of members, whole generations are now missing. In order to reach the 18-35 year olds, churches need to incorporate alternative worship services into their ministries that meet the unique needs of the emerging generations. In a conversational, narrative style, author Dan Kimball guides church leaders on how to create alternative services from start to finish. Using anecdotes from his own experience at Graceland, Kimball presents six creative models, providing real-life examples of each type. Emerging...

The...